Hurricanes Complete Final Double Session Of The Preseason

Aug. 18, 2005

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami Hurricanes wrapped up the double-session portion of the 2005 preseason with a pair of practices at the Greentree Practice Fields on Thursday. UM focused on special teams in a shortened afternoon practice that followed a lengthy morning session in full pads.

“We cut it down a bit in the afternoon and worked a lot on special teams,” head coach Larry Coker said. “I’d like to keep out of the heat for a little bit. I think this was good. We went long this morning, we’ll go long tomorrow and Saturday. This was a good changeup for us and we got a lot done.”

Although special teams often takes a backseat to offense and defense when it comes down to talking about football, it is a crucial part of the game.

“It’s huge,” Coker said of special teams. “We led the nation in non-offensive touchdowns. That’s a tremendous statistic.

“Special teams is key. We have good athletes and we have speed, so it gives us a chance to have some good players on special teams.”

Miami is on pace to fit in its 29 allotted preseason practice opportunities (as mandated by the NCAA) despite only scheduling a below-average three double sessions (morning and afternoon practices). It’s a schedule that suits Coker just fine.

“Hopefully we’ve used (our practice times) wisely,” Coker said. “We’ll find out on September 5. I’m not really a guy that thinks we need to be out here all day. What we have done is use our meeting times wisely.”

The Hurricanes return to the practice field at 8:30 a.m. on Friday.

Notes: Senior linebacker Rocky McIntosh (knee) dressed and participated in practice for the first time this preseason… Safety Brandon Meriweather had restricted participation in practice today. “(Meriweather) is limited right now. I don’t think he’ll be limited for long. He’ll be back in the mix pretty quick,” Coker said.